Page 59 of Flirting with 40

I nod and playfully stomp my feet like a kid. “Do we have to?”

“Unfortunately, yes, or it defeats the whole purpose of coming here.” He lifts a chin back to the direction where I came from. “How was your meeting?”

“Oh so fun.” I shake my head. “Not.”

“What happened?”

I avert my eyes and shove Heather’s comment from my mind and pretend that the inadequacies it evoked aren’t still there.

It’s funny how I can handle her bashing my work without a second thought, but when she implies I’m not enough for Slade, I have a little mental health lapse.

I force a smile onto my lips. “She was just being her charming self as per usual.”

“Dare I ask?”

“Nope.” I shrug it off. “Not worth both of us having our mood ruined.”

“Hey?” he says and gently pinches my chin between his thumb and forefinger to direct me to look at him. “Screw her. She isn’t going to stand a chance once we put our plan to win her over in motion.”

“We have a plan?” I ask and raise my eyebrows.

“Do you think I ever don’t have a plan?” he asks with a flash of a smile before linking his fingers with mine and directing us back to the trail.

“What is it?”

“Hell if I know.” He laughs. “Right now, it’s to go and have a blast making idiots of ourselves as we try not to fall into the water.”

“That’s a plan?” I glance his way and love the sheepish smile he gives me.

“It seems like you being happy pisses H-squared off, so while it won’t exactly win her over, it’ll still feel good to just be happy.” He shrugs. “And who knows, it might be contagious and others might end up admiring you for just being you. If you win over the masses, she’ll have no choice but to follow.”

“That’s a very sound plan.”

“Did you doubt me?”

We swing our arms back and forth as we walk toward the cabin. I try to clear my mind of all of the negativity from earlier and just enjoy this simple moment with Slade as much as I can.

“The way I see it, it’s officially day one, so we need to turn it up some.”

“Is this you figuring out your plan?” I tease and get a boyish shrug in response.

“What do you know about me so far?”

“You like bets. You’re pushy.” You’re adorable.

“And I’m competitive as hell.”

“So?” I ask as the cabin comes into sight.

“So, we’re going to win every damn challenge.”

I laugh. “You don’t exactly win at yoga, Slade. It isn’t a team sport.”

“No, but you can win by captivating others. Making them want to be more like you, who is charming and welcoming, instead of being like her, who is controlling, demanding, and off-putting.”

“Easier said than done since they’re all friends with her,” I say as we walk up the steps to the door.

“That’s where I think you’re wrong. Give them a lifeline, and they’ll take it,” he says, and before I have too much time to think about his comment, he pushes open the door. “I’ll wait out here while you change into your suit.”